Flow Room Lead

Greggs plc; Kettering; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Profit sharing

Colleague discount

Free drinks

Wellbeing app

Pension matching

Six weeks leave

Awards program

Job summary

Greggs plc is launching a new Flow Room at the National Distribution Centre in Kettering. This full-time role involves helping shape processes, systems, and governance from day one, with a focus on learning the setup, writing SOPs, and establishing standards for future hires.

You will work with engineering, IT and operations to define what good looks like and implement it, while supporting recruitment and onboarding of a growing team. This is a start-up environment inside a large retailer.

Qualifications

• Detailed experience of an automated warehouse operation.
• Experience in start-up environments, ideally with new warehouse/automation site launches.
• Experience writing, implementing and embedding SOPs and operational best practices.
• Builder mindset with structure, governance and continuous improvement.
• Experience training others and onboarding colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Recruit a cohesive Flow Room team.
• Partner with on-site operations and engineering for smooth automated system and product flow.
• Oversee Flow Room functions including labour planning and staffing alignment.
• Lead and coach Flow Room shift team with effective handovers and daily briefs.
• Monitor NDC WMS via KPI dashboards and best practices for throughput.
• Manage IT and automation incidents with clear escalation and rapid resolution.
• Keep customer service at the heart of the Flow Room with regular reviews.
• Regularly review Flow Room processes, SOPs and risk assessments for continuous improvement.
• Deliver standard and ad-hoc reports to the NDC senior team.
• Carry out PDRs, set targets and develop plans; foster accountability.
• Ensure all activities comply with safety standards and governance.

Skills

Automated warehouse

Start-up environments

SOPs writing

Process design

SAP EWM

Material Flow Systems

SynQ knowledge

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Analytical skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Governance & improvement

Tools

SAP EWM

SynQ

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Are you ready to be part of something new and exciting in Kettering? Our brand-new logistics site, situated at Symmetry Park Kettering, will offer a fresh and innovative environment, and we're looking for enthusiastic and passionate colleagues to help lay the foundation for something truly great. We have a fantastic opportunity to join our team in National Distribution Centre Kettering as Flow Room Lead. Reporting to the Warehouse Manager, this will be a key role in the Flow Room working with planning, engineering and warehouse operations teams to deliver optimal outcomes for both colleagues and customers. Initially you will actively participate in systems testing, engaging with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure seamless implementation and performance. You’ll also support the recruitment of your wider team who will start the journey of opening our new purpose-built ambient/chill site in early 2027. This initiative is a key part of our growth strategy, aimed at expanding our supply chain to meet the needs of our growing number of shops across the UK.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• We share 10% of all our profits with our colleagues
• Colleague discount allowing you and a family member to enjoy up to 50% off your favourite Greggs products
• Free hot drinks for you to enjoy while on a break
• Paid breaks allowing you to recharge your batteries
• Health and wellbeing app providing remote GP and physiotherapy services
• 6 weeks annual leave which includes bank holidays
• Colleague share plans to help you invest and save for your future
• Pension scheme to help you plan for your future. We’ll match your contributions up to 7%
• Confidential Employee assistance app and helpline to help with your wellbeing
• Long service awards celebrating key milestones in your career
• Savings and discounts for your everyday shopping, leisure and wellbeing

About the role

This is a full-time role. The role will be on a 4 on, 4 off, 12 hour shift pattern basis, including days, nights and weekends. You’ll be part of the start-up team, helping to shape the way the Flow Room operates from day one. You’ll be expected to learn systems, processes, and stakeholder relationships quickly and independently, while also helping to define them. As one of the first in the Flow Room team, you’ll be responsible for creating the training materials and onboarding plans for future team members. We’re looking for someone who thrives in ambiguity, ready to build processes, write SOPs, and create standards where none yet exist. You’ll work closely with engineering, IT, operations, and leadership to define what “good” looks like in our Flow Room and implement the practices to make it reality. The base location for this role is Symmetry Park Kettering, NN14 1FQ.

What you’ll do

• Take an instrumental role in recruiting a cohesive Flow Room team.
• Partner with on-site operations and engineering teams to ensure smooth automated system and product flow.
• Oversee all Flow Room functions, including tactical labour planning and alignment with operational and engineering teams to manage staffing and drive performance.
• Lead and support the Flow Room shift team to adhere to deadlines set for the site through effective shift handovers, cross-departmental daily briefs and regular meetings and coaching.
• Monitor the National Distribution Centre (NDC) Warehouse Management System (WMS) through KPI dashboards, housekeeping routines, and configuration of best practices to support operational throughput, identifying and addressing issues proactively.
• Manage IT and automation incidents with a focus on transparency, escalation, and rapid resolution of major issues impacting operations.
• Ensure customer service is at the heart of the Flow room, with regular reviews and recommendations for action to improve customer satisfaction.
• Promote consistency and quality by regularly reviewing Flow Room processes, SOPs, and risk assessments to embed continuous improvement.
• Deliver standard reports to the NDC senior team, with performance commentary and provide ad-hoc reports and system queries to inform operational decisions.
• Continually assess and build the capability of the team, carrying out PDRs with direct reports, agreeing targets and objectives, conducting monthly 1 to 1s and agreeing individual development plans, promoting a culture of achievement and responsibility.
• Ensure all activities comply with safety standards and contribute to a secure, well-governed Flow Room environment.

About you

• Have detailed experience of an automated warehouse operation.
• Have experience in start-up environments, ideally with new warehouse or automation site launches.
• Are comfortable working in a fast-moving, unstructured environment and enjoy bringing clarity and order through process design and documentation.
• Have experience writing, implementing, and embedding SOPs and operational best practices.
• Have a “builder” mindset, bringing structure, governance, and continuous improvement into evolving operations.
• Have experience training others and enjoy taking ownership of knowledge sharing, documentation, and onboarding.
• Understand that in a start-up environment, you help create the structure others will rely on.
• Have a detailed understanding of the functionality and operation of automated systems; SAP Extended Warehouse Management, specifically Material Flow Systems, is essential and knowledge of SynQ would be desirable.
• Are customer-focused with a commitment to quality, efficiency, and accuracy.
• Are a strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust at all levels.
• Are calm and effective under pressure, able to manage multiple priorities at pace.
• Have strong IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Outlook.
• Have strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a track record of implementing workable solutions.
• Are a clear and confident communicator with excellent written and verbal skills.
• Are results-driven with strong planning, prioritisation, and organisational abilities.
• Are skilled in influencing and challenging constructively to drive continuous improvement.
• Are supportive of an inclusive workplace culture.

About Greggs

Here at Greggs, we love what we do, and we have fun! What makes Greggs so special is our culture – the way we are, the way we behave and the way we support each other. We're hard-working, but above all else we're family; and it doesn't matter who you are, where you're from or what your favourite bake is, we’d love you to join us! We want everyone to feel welcome at Greggs and our colleagues to be able to be themselves at work, whatever their background, preferences, or views.